Current Research Highlights

Atlantic cod and cusk are subject to barotrauma when quickly brought to the surface by lobster traps, which induces physical trauma to the fish. We want to test methods of reversing this physical trauma and thereby increasing their survival rate.

This research aims to quantify growth rates of Atlantic halibut through otolith analysis and to describe habitat preferences by combining rigorous statistical analyses and modeling with fishermen’s knowledge.

• Development of a user-friendly stock assessment model for the Ameircan lobster
• Developing and evaluating biological reference points for the American lobster fishery management
• Ecosystem dynamics of American lobster
• Evaluating lobster monitoring program

Spatial distributions of American lobster, homarus americanus, are influenced by many factors. We developed a modeling approach for quantifying the season-, size-, and sex-specific lobster spatial distribution with respect to environmental and spatial variables in the Gulf of Maine.

With an unstable market and an increased proportion of catch coming from the trap shrimp fishery the goal of this project is to understand the benefit and feasibility of certifying the trap fishery as sustainable with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Photo: articles.sfgate.com

The Gulf of Maine Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) fishery has suffered from stock collapse and an inability to recover. Managing cod stocks with regards to the biological scale of the fishery may have an impact on the recoverability of the stocks.